THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND CVS HEALTH ARE BUILDING A GENERATION OF LIFESAVERS IN RHODE ISLAND

WOONSOCKET, RI –  The American Heart Association in partnership with CVS Health, is pleased to announce that six CPR in Schools Training Kits will be donated to local schools in Rhode Island. These kits will ensure quality CPR training as part of the CPR in Schools graduation requirement that was passed in the Ocean State in 2015. Each year, this bill results in teaching 11,000 Rhode Island students the lifesaving skills of CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) prior to graduation.

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When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Approximately 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. The American Heart Association is creating a generation of lifesavers by making sure students learn CPR before they graduate.

A total of six CPR in Schools kits will be donated to local schools in Rhode Island. Through this program, students will be empowered to learn the core skills of CPR in under 30 minutes, as well as AED skills and choking relief. The easy-to-use instruction guide is designed specifically for the needs of school educators. It’s portable, allowing for convenient movement from classroom to classroom, easily stored and reusable.

Evolutions Charter School in Providence was the first to receive their kit on December 6, 2016. Principal Magaly Sanchez and the Health and Wellness Learning Facilitator, Joseph Blair expressed their gratitude to the American Heart Association and CVS Health for improving their ability to train students in the lifesaving skills of CPR.

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Sanchez conveyed her excitement, “Our CPR class has been completely transformed from just visual and auditory learning to a more hands on learning experience. We are very thankful to the American Heart Association and CVS Health for their generous donation!”

Two more of the kits were delivered to Woonsocket Middle School (60 Florence Drive, Woonsocket, RI 02895) on Friday, January 11, 2017 to Principal Mark Thompsen, Superintendent Dr. Patrick McGee and Health/PE Teacher Wendy Todd-Fies.

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Remaining kits will be delivered to Tolman High School in Pawtucket and Beacon Charter High School in Woonsocket.

“As a pharmacy innovation company, we are committed to helping people on their path to better health. We are proud to support the American Heart Association and their efforts to increase access to CPR training, which is critical to delivering better community health,” said Eileen Howard Boone, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, CVS Health. “We look forward to working with them to fulfill the program’s mission.”

Developed by the American Heart Association using the latest in scientific advancement, the CPR in Schools Training program teaches students CPR before they graduate and puts thousands of qualified lifesavers in the community, year after year.

Through this meaningful partnership, the American Heart Association and CVS Health are working to ensure every teen and young adult is trained in CPR and is prepared to save lives should someone experience sudden cardiac arrest in their presence.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org/sne or call any of our offices around the country.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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